The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified efforts to ensure the successful implementation of the National Single Window (NSW) project, reaffirming its leadership role in advancing Nigeria’s trade modernisation and digital transformation agenda.
Speaking during a stakeholder engagement with airline and shipping line operators in Abuja on March 4, 2026, the Comptroller-General of Customs emphasised the importance of collaboration in driving the initiative to success.
He noted that the consistent support of critical stakeholders has contributed significantly to the milestones achieved in the Service’s modernisation efforts.
The CGC disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mandated the Service to take decisive steps towards the successful launch of the National Single Window, a move designed to position Nigeria as a key player in global trade.
He stressed that airline and shipping line operators remain essential partners in ensuring a smooth transition to the new digital trade platform.
According to him, the Service is putting in place robust support structures to ease the migration process for all stakeholders.
“A help desk with well-trained personnel will be available to address any operational challenges that may arise during the rollout,” the Comptroller-General stated.
Earlier, at an awareness programme held on Monday, March 3, 2026, the Service rallied stakeholders and partner agencies behind the initiative, describing the National Single Window as a strategic reform aligned with Customs’ mandate of trade facilitation, revenue generation, and inter-agency coordination.
Speaking at the programme, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT and Modernisation, DCG Oluyomi Adebakin, described the NSW as a major milestone in the Service’s ongoing modernisation drive. She revealed that the NCS has been working extensively for months to ensure that the framework being developed reflects operational realities and supports seamless implementation.
“This is a national project, but Customs is at the centre of its execution,” DCG Adebakin said. “The success of the Single Window depends on collective understanding and cooperation. We must all appreciate its value because we cannot effectively promote what we do not fully understand.”
She further reassured officers and stakeholders that the initiative is designed to strengthen institutional capacity rather than replace human resources, explaining that technology will enhance efficiency, transparency, and speed in cargo clearance and trade documentation processes.
Also speaking at the programme, the Director of the NSW Project, Tola Fakolade, acknowledged the pivotal leadership role being played by the NCS in the implementation process.
“Our number one stakeholder is the Nigeria Customs Service,” Fakolade said. “We have maintained a strong and constructive working relationship. Customs’ participation and institutional experience are critical to the success of this project.”
With the NCS spearheading coordination and stakeholder engagement, the National Single Window project is expected to significantly transform Nigeria’s trade environment, boost revenue generation, and strengthen the country’s position in the global trading community.
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